Ebola cases in Congo top 10,000 as Kenya and Nigeria report infections

Case count passes 10,000

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 10,060 Ebola cases on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, and 4,887 deaths since the outbreak became known in mid-May. The African health agency Africa CDC calls it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. The national health authority counts more than 9,700 registered patients in the east of the country, where the outbreak became known, and more than 4,700 deaths there. Reuters, citing data from the Congolese public health institute, ranks the epidemic second-largest and second-deadliest on record, behind only the West African epidemic of 2014 to 2016, which infected more than 28,600 people and killed over 11,000. Within Congo it has already become the largest and deadliest outbreak, surpassing an epidemic from 2018 to 2020.

Bundibugyo strain without approved tools

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo variant, and no vaccine or specific therapy has been approved for it, which makes containment harder. Ervebo, a vaccine currently licensed and recommended only for outbreaks of the Zaire ebolavirus type, is being tested in two trial series for protection against Bundibugyo. Two antiviral treatments have been in clinical trials since July. Early symptoms can resemble malaria, according to dpa, which can delay the isolation and treatment of patients. The virus spreads through physical contact and contact with bodily fluids and causes a highly contagious fever with diarrhea and bleeding.

Cases in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda

Kenya has reported nine infections, including two deaths, after a man who had travelled from Congo through Uganda died in Nairobi. Nigeria reported one case, in the wife of a Swiss diplomat who had not travelled to Congo. The Swiss government said she was believed to have been infected in Uganda, and she and her husband were flown to hospitals in Switzerland on Monday, 26 October. Uganda recorded 20 cases in May and June, most of them imported from Congo, and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak there over in August. Ugandan officials say the country currently has no Ebola cases, and its health minister said on Sunday, 25 October, that citizens returning from Congo would be quarantined for 21 days.

Democratic Republic of Congo, reported 27 October 202610,060

Kenya9

Uganda, May and June 202620

Nigeria1

Democratic Republic of Congo, reported 27 October 2026

10060 cases

Kenya

9 cases

Uganda, May and June 2026

20 cases

Nigeria

1 cases

Data from the article text

Timeline and open questions

The outbreak was announced in mid-May 2026, and Uganda's 20 cases followed in May and June. Clinical trials of two antiviral treatments began in July, and the WHO declared Uganda free of Ebola in August. Kenya reported its first case in October 2026, and the Swiss couple was flown to Switzerland on Monday, 26 October. Health officials are still working out how and where the Nigerian patient was infected, and the Swiss government believes Uganda is the likely place. Tuesday's update of 10,060 cases and 4,887 deaths is the latest figure available.